Casting apparatus



Jan. 15, 1957 Filed Aug. 2, 1954 Phu V. R. TROGLIONE CASTING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. l5, 1957 v. R. TROGLIONE 2,777,178

CASTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2, A1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 15, 1957 Filed Aug. 2, 1954 v. R. TRoGLloNE 2,777,178

CASTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 PI@ INVENTOR.

VINCENT magi/ONF Jan. 15, 1957 v. R. TROGLIONE 2,777,178

CASTING APPARATUS med Aug. 2, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. I//Nc'gA/r 77904; MM5" United States Patent O CASTING APPARATUS Vincent Ralph Troglione, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Ferguson Equipment Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 2, 1954, Serial N o. 447,254

` Claims. (Cl. 22-64) Thisinvention relates to casting apparatus in which molds travel continuously in a closed circuit.

Itis among the objects offthis invention to vprovide l filled as they move along one track to yform castings or ingots. Castings will be used for designating both castings andingots herein. At one end of the track there is anelevator for receiving successive trays and carrying them to the adjacent end of the second track. A second elevator `is located` at the opposite end of the second track. Means are provided for pushing the vtrays from the first yelevator' along the second track to push a ltray at the opposite end of that track onto the second elevator. An rejector is pivotally `mounted on a horizontal axis on `the second elevator for receiving each tray. The ejector is rocked to invert the tray carried by it so that castings therein will ybe ejected. The second elevator, andthe tray which preferably was emptied before the elevator is moved, `then are moved to the first track, and

2,777,178 lhatented Jan. 15, 1,957

y2 upper track is formed'from a similar rpair of angle bars 2'. Slidable along each track is a row of metal trays 3 that are in endtoend -engagement with one another. vEach tray carries one or more molds of any desired shape. While the trays are stationary, lthe molds in oneor more of them are tilled with molten metal from one Yor more ladles or pots.

For pouring molds 5 (Fig. 7) that extend lengthwise of the tracks, a pot 6 is located above one of the tracks, preferably the lower one, and has trunnions 7 `pivotally mounted in bearings 8 at opposite sides of the track. One side of the pot is provided with a series of laterally spaced spouts 9 corresponding in number with the number of molds carried bythe underlying tray. The pot is ltilted by a handle 10 fastened to one of the trunnions. `It receives molten metal through a trough 12 from a furnace 13. Molds 15, which extend c'rosswise of the trays, can be filled from a pot 16 that is mounted in bearings 17 at one side of the lower track so that it can be tilted over the molds. A counter-weighted cable 18 (Fig. 9) attached to the outer side of the pot aids in tilting the pot to pour molten metal from spouts 21. This pot receives the metal from a trough. 22 also connected with the furnace. y

As ysoon yas a tray fully of molds has been filled with molten metal, the lowerrow of trays is moved to the left, as viewed in'Figs. l and 2,`a distance equal to the length of one tray. This is done by pushing means which will be ,described later. The left-hand tray is pushed onto the platform 24'of an'elevator that is 'located at the end of the vlower ltrack at that time. The platform is slidably vmounted on four vertical guide posts 25 secured to the the .empty `tray is pushed out of the ejector and onto that track. When athis occurs, the -tray lat the opposite .end of the row is `pushed onto the other elevator so that lit can becarried to the second track. Any empty tray Vcan ,be .quickly removed laterally from the first row when it is desired to change .molds zposed above the row of illed trays and means .areprovided for dropping lthe hammer onto the trays yto loosen the castings therein. This can .be after thetrayshave passed ythrough suitable cooling apparatus. f

The preferred .embodiment ofthe ,invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l yis a plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a verticalsection taken on Athe line'II-II of Fig. `1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged 'fragmentary horizontal sectionitakfen on thelinelII-III of Fig. 2;

fFigj4 is anenlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2; f

`AFig. 5 is an enlarged detail taken on theline V-V o Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an kenlarged transverse section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the .pouring apparatus; and

Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are vertical sections taken, respective-` 'ly on the'lines VIII-VIII, IX-lX and X-X of Fig. 7.

Preferably, a hammer is .dis-

top and bottom of thelframework. Fastened to each side of the platform is the lower end of an angle bar 26 which forms a side for the elevator. Connected to the upper and lower ends of each bar are the opposite ends of a chain 27 that extends around a sprocket 28 rotatably mounted in the lower part of the framework and another sprocket 29 on top of the framework. The upper pair of sprockets is lrigidly y,mountedon the opposite ends of a cross shaft 31, to which a pinion 32 is fastened. This pinion meshes with the teeth .of an underlying rack 33 that can be reciprocated lengthwiseof the framework by a iiuid pressure cylinder 34.

When the rack is moved away from the'cylinder, the upper sprockets are turned in directions to cause the .chains to raise the elevator platform up to the end of the upper track to position the loaded tray in line with that track. The ltray then ,is moved oi the elevator and onto the track. This isaccomplished by apusher 36.extend ing .downward from theouter end of acarriage 37 that has wheelsr38lwhich run lengthwise of the track in parallel guides formed from channels 39. The carriage is reciprocated by a iiuid pressure cylinder 41. When pusher 36 pushes a tray off the rai-sed elevator and onto the upper track, it simultaneously moves the upper row of trays along the track a distance equal to the length of a tray and therebyppushes the tray at the far or right-hand end oif the trackand onto the raised platform 42 of a second elevator. This elevator likewise is supported and moved by a pair of chains 43 passing around upper and lower sprockets 44 and 4S. The upper sprockets are turned by a uid pressure cylinder 46k which reciprocates `arack 47 that engages. a lpinion 48 mounted on the shaft 49 which supports the upper sprockets. The elevator is Yguided by vertical posts 50.

,in VFigQZZ. 'The b'ottoml .of vthe .chamber is providedwith a drain 54 that can be connected witha sewer.

A After the trays leave the cooling chamber they may pass beneath a pair of hammers which are used for jarring the molds and trays to loosen the castings and for stamping :some of them with identiiication marks. Each hammer has a head 56 mounted on` a handle 57 that extends part way across the top of the upper row of trays. The ends of the handles opposite to the heads are rotatably mounted on a shaft 58 journaled in bearings 59 carried by a frame 61 that is supported by the upper track. This shaft is provided near one end with a pinion 62 that meshes with the teeth of a rack 63 above it. The rack is reciprocated by a fluid pressure cylinder 64 in order to turn the shaft, on which there is a lifting member 66 that will engage a tie rod 67 between the hammer handles to swing the hammers upward against stops 68 fastened to the top of the framework. When the rotation of the shaft is reversed, the lifting member 66 engages the opposite side of the tie rod and swings thehammers forward until they pass over the shaft, whereupon they fall by gravity onto the castings below them.

When a tray is pushed onto the raised platform 42 of the second elevator, it enters an ejector which operates to strip or eject the castings from the molds in the trays. This ejector has a box 70 that is open at its inner end adjacent the upper track for receiving a tray. The top of the box has an opening large enough to permit the cast ings to escape from the molds, but small enough to prevent the molds from leaving the tray. The outer end of the box is rigidly mounted on a pair of stub shafts 71 that are journaled in bearings 72 mounted on lateral extensions 73 of the elevator platform. On the outer end of each of these shafts there is a sprocket 74 that is`connected by a chain 76 with another sprocket 77 located about half way between the upper and lower tracks on the opposite side of the elevator. This sprocket and the one like it on the other side of the framework are rigidly mounted on a horizontal shaft`78 journaled in bearings 79 supported by the framework. Also mounted on the shaft is a pinion 81 that meshes with the teeth of a rack 82 above it. The rack is reciprocated by a fluid pressure cylinder 83.

When the rack is moved outward away from the cylinder, it turns the shaft in a direction to cause the sprockets and chain to swing or rock the ejector box upward and outward into an inclined inverted position where it strikes a frame 84 rigidly connected to the framework. The impact of the box against the frame causes the castings to leave the molds and fall through the frame onto a chute 85, from which they are delivered' to a conveyor, tote box or other receptacle. The ejector then is swung back onto the elevator platform, which is lowered with the empty tray to a position where the tray is in line with the row of trays on the lower track. At the same or about the same time the other elevator is also lowered, so that when the empty tray is pushed out of the ejector onto the lower track the tray at the opposite end of the lower row will slide onto the elevator.

The empty tray is pushed out of the lowered ejector by a pusher 86 fastened to the inner end of a carriage 87 that has wheels 88 which travel in guideways formed by channels 89. The carriage is reciprocated by a fluid pressure cylinder 90, and the outer end of the ejector box is provided with an opening to permit the pusher to enter it and push the empty tray out of it and onto the loweritrack. v

Between lower pusher 86 and the pouring pots 6 and 16, one of the side flanges of the lower track is provided with an opening 92 (Fig. 2) wide enough to permit a tray to be pulled out of the lower row and replaced by a similar tray or the same tray with different molds in it. Since the trays are not fastened together, all of them can be replaced in this manner in a short time as compared with trays that are connected together by chains or the like.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I

illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specilically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. Casting apparatus comprising upper and lower tracks, a row of mold-carrying trays in end-to-end engagement movable along each track, means for filling molds inthe row of trays on one track, an elevator for receiving successive trays from one end of said one track and moving them vertically to the adjacent end of the other track, a second elevator at the opposite end of said other track, means for moving the second elevator vertically between the tracks, a tray-receiving ejector pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on the second elevator, means for pushing the trays from the first elevator along said other track to push a tray at the opposite end of that track forward into said ejector on the second elevator, means for rocking the ejector in one direction to invert the tray carried thereby to eject castings from molds in the tray and for then rocking the ejector in the opposite direction to return the emptied tray to upright position on the second elevator the ejector being formed to hold the tray when the ejector is inverted, and means for pushing the emptied tray back out of the ejector and onto said one track, whereby to push a tray at the opposite end of the row onto the other elevator.

2. Casting apparatus as defined in claim l, in which said ejector is a box with an open tray-receiving end and an open casting-ejecting top.

3. Casting apparatus as defined in claim l, in which said ejector-rocking means comprises a sprocket rigidly connected with the ejector coaxially of said horizontal axis, a second sprocket journaled about halfway between the upper and lower positions of said second elevator, a chain extending around the sprockets, and means for oscillating said second sprocket.

4. Casting apparatus comprising upper and lower tracks, a row of mold carrying trays in end-to-end engagement movable along each track, means for filling molds in the row of trays on one track, an elevator for receiving successive trays from one end of said one track and moving them vertically to the adjacent end of the other track, a second elevator at the opposite end of said other track, means for moving the second elevator vertically between the tracks, an ejector disposed on the second elevator and having an open end for receiving a tray, means pivotally mounting the opposite end of the ejector on the second velevator on a horizontal axis, means for pushing the trays from the first elevator along said other track to push a tray at the opposite end of that track forward into said ejector, a sprocket rigidly connected with the ejector concentrically with said horizontal axis,a second sprocket journaled about halfway between the tracks, an inclined endless chain extending around the sprockets, rack and pinion means for oscillating the second sprocket to rock the ejector first in one direction for inverting the tray carried thereby to eject castings from molds on the tray and to then rock the ejector in the opposite direction to return the emptied tray to upright position, and means aligned with said one track for pushing the emptied tray back out of the ejector and onto that track, whereby to push a tray at the opposite end of the row onto the other elevator.

5. Casting apparatus comprising upper and lower tracks, a row of mold-carrying trays in end-to-end engagement movable along each track, means forylling molds in the lower row of trays, an elevator for receiving successive trays from one end of the lower track and raising them to the adjacent` end of the upper track, a

second elevator at the opposite end of the upper track, a box-like ejectorframe disposed on the second elevator and having an open end adjacent the upper track for receiving a tray therefrom, means pivotally mounting the opposite end of the frame on the second lelevator on a transverse axis, means for pushing the trays from the raised first elevator along the upper track to push a tray at the opposite end of the upper row forward into said frame, asprocket rigidly connectedv with the ejector frame coaxially of said pivotal means, a second sprocket journaled between the tracks halfway between the upper and lower positions of .therst sprocket, anendless inclined chain extending around the sprockets, means for oscillating the second sprocket to swing the ejector frame away from the upper track for inverting the tray carried by said frame, said frame having an opening in its top for vrelease of castings from molds in the inverted tray, means for receiving the ejected castings, and a carriage disposed below said receiving means in line with the lower track, said opposite end of the ejector frame being provided with an opening, and means for moving the carriage toward the lower track and part Way into said frame openingto push the emptied tray back out of the ejector and onto the lower track, whereby to push a tray at the opposite ,end of the row onto the first-mentioned elevator.

References cited in the nie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 597,367 Walker Ian. 11, 1898 6 788,334 Scott Apr. 25, 1905 788,964 Uehling May 2, 1905 866,607 Weimer Sept. 17, 1907 870,869y Custer Nov. 12, 1907 1,431,248 Norris Oct. 10, 1922 1,519,154 Mitton Dec. 16, 1924 1,704,342 Redpath et al Mar. 5, 1929 2,095,151 OConnor et al Oct. 5, 1937 2,190,406 Jackson Feb. 13, 1940 2,236,471 Eppensteiner Mar. 25, `1941 2,330,274 Fiske Sept. 28, 1943 2,597,246 Kelley May 20, 1952 2,639,827 yOtte May 26, 1953 2,657,440 Myers Nov. 3, 1953 2,701,071 Cavalieri Feb. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 744,717 Germany Ian. 24, 1944 OTHER REFERENCES The Iron Age. vol. 158, issue 23, Dec. 5, 1946, pp. 77- 80 incl. y

American Foundryman, vol. XVII, issue 1, January 1950, page 68. 

